NSW SENATOR Ursula Stephens said her removal as a parliamentary secretary in the new Federal Government has occurred simply because she had completed her assigned tasks in that role.
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Dr Stephens was the Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector in the Rudd Labor government. This position has now been abolished.
“Every parliamentary secretary and minister is appointed at the behest of the Prime Minister,” Dr Stephens said.
“I had been working on the issues of social inclusion and reform to the not-for-profit sector and we announced a major new policy on that during the election campaign, so my job was completed.”
Dr Stephens said the roles of parliamentary secretaries are quite specific.
“I delivered on the charter letter I had been given in the first term,” she said.
“I had done my job so she (Julia Gillard) decided to give parliamentary secretary positions to other people.
“I’ll still have a lot to do with it all through Senate committees - I just don’t have the title anymore.”
She said her removal from the position in the new Gillard Government was not a demotion.
“It is not a demotion. These roles are specific and usually for a short term to get a job done,” she said.
“I’m there until 2014 and I will continue to support that work.”
Dr Stephens was elected to the Australian Senate for NSW in 2001 and re-elected in 2007.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said Senator Stephens had performed well in the role.
“As the Prime Minister has indicated previously, being a parliamentary secretary gives members of parliament and senators an opportunity to learn and contribute to a range of portfolio areas,” the spokesperson said.
“Senator Stephens performed well and the Prime Minister looks forward to seeing her get opportunities in the future.”
Tanya Plibersek has been appointed Minister for Social Inclusion as part of her portfolio responsibilities. She is also the new Minister for Human Services.
